Laundering method and material



v... w. w uuu 11.1.0 (I. l'lDLflb', atented Nov. 14, 1922. 1

, umrso STATES SR bss Ref meme PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT A. PHAIR, OF ALLENDALE, NEW JERSEY, -ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO H. KOHNSTAMM & CO., INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

w LAUNDERING METHOD AND MATERIAL.

1170 Drawing. Application filed July 18,

To all ialz om it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. PHAIR, a citizen of thellnited States, residing in Allendale, Newfilersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Laundering Methods and Materials, of

- ations separately and in various other combinations than that specifically described and includes also certain materials which I are new in this field. g

In the first stage of the process the goods are subjected to a mixture containing a comparatively large percentage of a water-soluble' phosphate and a comparatively small percentage of soap.

In the second stage the goods are subjected to the action of soap and a soap assistant 'of. a particularly determined degree of alkalinity which is calculated to do the work without leaving any substantial excess of alkali. The goods are then rinsed in one or more Waters and are then bleached with any usual or suitable material and again rinsed in one or, more Waters. They are then subjected to a sour comprising an acid compound of fluorine mixed with a reducing or neutralizing agent and again thoroughly rinsed. One example of such an improved sour is a mixture of sodium acid fluoride and sodium sulfite; another is sodium silicofluoride and sodium bisulfite.

I In the first stage the detergent composition used may consist, for example, of 94% of trisodium phosphate and 6% of soap (say 88% soap). ()ther phosphates may be included and other alkalies, not phosphates. Borax is an example of such another alkali. Instead of soap there may be used saponifiable fatty matter or fatty acids. Practically all'Water-soluble phosphates may he used.

These' compositions reduce the surface tension of the water, and-cause it to penetrate the goods'more efi'ectively. Their prin- 192}. Serial No. 485,642.

cipal purpose is to precipitate in a colorless form any iron in solution in the water, so as to avoid discoloring the work. Also stains composed partly or entirely of iron' or iron compounds'in solution are removed and precipitated in a colorless form, or are decidedly lightened. With the ordinary alkalies used for softening water, iron stains are strengthened and reddened, and this is a serious defect of the usual methods, which is eliminatedby my invention.- The softening of the water makes it possible to secure the detergent effect with a comparatively small quantity of soap, the water penetratingthegoods thoroughlyand quickly. If a large percentage of soap is used in this first stage of the process, it is apt to act on the iron before the (phosphate doe and to throw down the iron as ai'reddish brown precipitate on the goods. And this disadvantage is also obviated by the use of the Search Room material which I have described. This material is used in the first or in the second water, or in bothwaters.

For the second stage, using a soap and a soap assistant, difiiculty has been encountered heretofore because the alkaline soap as.

'sistant has left traces of alkali on the goods which are very diflicult to remove in the mediate point in the scale. For. example,

an alkali composed entirely of the comparatively strong sodium carbonate has a minimum value as a soap assistant, and the same is true of an alkali composed entirely. of the comparatively weak sodium bicar-' bonate. By mixing these in varylng percentages and experimenting I have found that a mixture consisting of 66% of the weaker bicarbonate and 34% of the stronger carbonate has the maximum value as a soap assistant in reducing surface-tension and at the same time produces little or no excess of alkalinity in the Water. I use about. from two to six ounces of this alkali to a pound of 88% soap in the second wateror.

soap bath to which the goods, are sub another example of a stronger alkali, and borax another example of a weaker alkali, which may be combined in sultable proportions to assist the soap without producing excessive alkalinity.

In rinsing operations, which follow the soap bath, I may add also some of the water soluble phosphate used in the first stage, with or without the small amount of soap referred -to in connection with it. The action of this compound in the rinsing water, -I have found by experiment, increases the action of the bleach used in the next operation.

In the first water an oleate or a soap from an. oil base is preferred. And in the second and later waters, if hard water isused, there should also be used an oleate or a soap from an oil base; otherwise the hard water used in subsequent rinsing operations will form a hard insoluble soap.

The next operation, the bleaching of the goods, is effected by means of any usual or suitable chlorine or other compound, and most of the bleaching material is removed by rinsing, generally in three successive clear waters. There is a residue of the bleaching material and certain porducts of the bleaching operation, however, which cannot be removed in this way and the goods must be treated to a subsequent souring operation.

Any ordinary material and method may be used for this souring operation. I prefer, however, a certain compound and method which are described in my application No. 568,650, filed June 15th, 1922, being a division of the present application.

Though I have described with great particularity of detail a complete process of laundering and treating textile materials, yet it is not to be understood therefrom that the invention is restricted to the particular process and the particular steps and materials described. Various modifications may be made in detail and in the different stages of the process without departing'from the invention as defined in the following claims.

lVhat I claim is 1. The method of laundering or treating textile materials which consists in, first, subjecting the goods to a mixture containing a comparatively large percentage of watersoluble phosphate anda comparatively small percentage of soap; second, subjecting the goods to soap and a soap assistant of an intermediate degree of alkalinity calculated to have approximately a maximum value as an assistant and to leave no substantial excess of alkali; third, rinsing; fourth, bleaching; fifth rinsing; sixth, treating the goods with a sour comprising an acid compound of fluorine and a reducing agent; and finally rinsing,

sistant and to 2. In the laundering or treating of textile materials the method which consists in subjecting the goods to a water-softening and detergent composition consisting of a mixture containing a comparatively large percentage of water soluble phosphate and a comparatively small percentage of soap.

3. In the landering or treating of textile materials the method which consists in subecting the goods to a mixture of about one pound of soap with from 2 to 6 ounces of a 5. A water-softening and detergent material for use in the initial operations of a laundering process comprising a mixture containing phosphate and soap, the percentage. of phosphate being greater than that of soap and being so large as to cause it to act on any iron present before the latter is acted on by the soap.

6. A water-softening and detergent material for use in the initial operations of a laundering process. comprising a mixture containing phosphate and soap in the proportion of about 94% phosphate and 6% soap.

7. A material for use in laundering, comprising a mixture of soap with a soap assistant of an,.intermediate. alkalinity calculated to have the maximum value as an asroduce no substantial excess of alkalinity, t e proportion being about one pound of soap and from 2 to 6 ounces of the assistant.

8. A'material for use in laundering, comprising a mixture of soap with a soap assistant consisting of a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate of an intermediate degree of alkalinity, the proportion being about one pound of soap and from 2 to 6 ounces of the assistant.

9. A material for use in laundering, comprising a mixture of about 1 pound of soap with from 2 to 6 ounces of a soap assistant consisting of a mixture of about 66% of sodium' bicarbonate and 34% of sodium carbonate.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name,

ROBERT A. PHAIR. 

